China’s Anti-Stealth Radar “Twin Stars” Debut at the China Air Show

Modern warfare has evolved with advancements in air combat, especially following the introduction of stealth aircraft, which have dramatically altered traditional air combat and defense strategies. As more nations deploy stealth fighters, countering stealth technology has become a primary focus for many countries’ defense initiatives.

At this year’s China Air Show, the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation’s 14th Institute showcased two state-of-the-art anti-stealth radars: the YLC-8E high-mobility anti-stealth air defense radar and the YLC-2E S-band long-range multi-function radar. According to the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, these two radars, though based on different technical approaches, are both internationally advanced and demonstrate formidable anti-stealth capabilities, earning the title “twin stars” in anti-stealth technology.

Debuting for the first time, the YLC-2E radar is groundbreaking. It is the first high-performance anti-stealth radar on the international market to operate outside of the traditional meter-wave frequency, breaking free from the low-frequency reliance typically associated with stealth detection.

YLC-8E: Maximizing the Potential of Meter-Wave Radar

Stealth fighters pose a significant threat in modern warfare, as their design greatly reduces the detection range of conventional radars, allowing them to penetrate and withdraw from the battlefield at high altitudes and speeds. Radars, serving as the “eyes” of the battlefield, are essential for stripping away the “invisibility” of stealth fighters, and thus hold a central role in anti-stealth operations.

Historically, meter-wave radars have been the primary solution for anti-stealth operations due to their ability to detect stealth targets through longer wavelengths, which cause “diffraction” around stealth surfaces. China Electronics Technology Group Corporation’s 14th Institute, often referred to as China’s “anti-stealth radar flagship,” has been a leader in developing meter-wave radar products like the YLC-8B, YLC-8E, and SLC-7, which benefit from this frequency-based detection advantage.

The YLC-8E, an upgrade from the YLC-8B model, brings significant enhancements. While traditional low-frequency radars offered anti-stealth capabilities, they often lacked portability and automation. The YLC-8E overcomes these limitations, becoming the world’s first UHF mobile stealth-target detection radar.

First introduced in 2016, the YLC-8B was celebrated as the “flagship” of China’s anti-stealth radars for its robust stealth detection capabilities. The YLC-8E, an upgraded version of the YLC-8B, retains the low-frequency advantages but overcomes traditional limitations of size, mobility, and automation. The YLC-8E is notably the world’s first UHF mobile radar specifically designed for detecting stealth targets, made possible by advancements in semiconductor technology, enhanced transmission power, and cutting-edge algorithms. By combining frequency band and energy-based anti-stealth approaches, the YLC-8E is optimized to meet the demands of modern anti-stealth warfare with high mobility and automation.

YLC-2E: The World’s First Non-Meter-Wave Anti-Stealth Radar

While meter-wave anti-stealth radars continue to be valuable for early warning systems due to their technical advantages and lower costs, they do have limitations in detection precision. In response, the 14th Institute sought to innovate beyond traditional meter-wave technology and launched the YLC-2E, the world’s first non-meter-wave anti-stealth radar available on the global market.

Operating in the S-band, the YLC-2E challenges conventional wisdom about stealth detection, which previously linked anti-stealth capabilities almost exclusively with low-frequency radars. Equipped with next-generation semiconductor components and intelligent algorithms, the YLC-2E leverages “energy” and “intelligent algorithms” to detect stealth targets. Its antenna array, approximately half the size of a badminton court, is densely packed with high-power radar transmit/receive components, providing exceptional energy output—a foundation for energy-based anti-stealth capability. Enhanced by intelligent algorithms, the YLC-2E can efficiently target and track stealth aircraft with high precision, even in challenging interference conditions.

While the YLC-2E does not rely on the traditional meter-wave advantages found in radars like the YLC-8E, it achieves similar stealth detection range and performance through its high energy and sophisticated algorithms. This new approach signifies a breakthrough in anti-stealth radar technology, opening the door to high-performance anti-stealth detection beyond meter-wave radar limitations.

Complementary Technologies: The Role of YLC-2E and Meter-Wave Radars

Does the emergence of the YLC-2E indicate the end of traditional meter-wave radar systems? Experts suggest that the YLC-2E and frequency band-based radars like the YLC-8B and YLC-8E are complementary rather than competitive. While low-frequency radars such as meter-wave systems offer cost advantages and continue to play an essential role in early detection, the YLC-2E brings added versatility, higher precision, and broader applications to the anti-stealth combat system. Together, these technologies strengthen the layered defense required in modern air combat, marking a new era in China’s anti-stealth radar capabilities.

(Note: Information obtained from The Paper)